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ON COVER THE The Wilcox <strong>family</strong> of Olney, MD ranks cycling as <strong>the</strong>ir favorite activity. Photo by Neil Sandler. page 4 $4 A GALLON GAS. In a couple of years you’ll be wishing it was that cheap. My dad owned a gas station and I grew up pumping <strong>the</strong> stuff. (Trust me when I tell you <strong>the</strong> leaded gasoline smells sweeter than today’s unleaded. My wife Sonja says my growing up sniffing gas explains a lot about my personality.) I remember how distraught everyone was when it hit $1 a gallon in <strong>the</strong> late 1960s. But in <strong>the</strong> scheme of things $4 gas is still really cheap. Around <strong>the</strong> time gas hit a buck, my parents sold our house and moved into an apartment. My sister Linda and I had gone away to college. (Let that be a warning to those of you young’uns getting ready to move out of <strong>the</strong> <strong>family</strong> home. Sometimes, <strong>the</strong>re’s no going home.). My dad boasted of <strong>the</strong> killing he was making selling <strong>the</strong> three bedroom, one bathroom <strong>family</strong> Cape Cod. He only paid $12,000 for it, and sold it for $32,000. It was my dad’s best year in business (he had an Esso station, and I still have <strong>the</strong> huge plastic oval Esso sign hanging in our basement). He made almost $25,000 that year. Now, keep in mind, good ole Abe Sandler worked seven days a week, and Sandler <strong>family</strong> vacations were a long weekend in Atlantic City (some years dad headed home early cause things weren’t being run <strong>the</strong> way he liked). RECUMBENT = Comfort PEOPLE ASK US WHO RIDES RECUMBENTS? We tell <strong>the</strong>m avid <strong>cyclists</strong> overcoming discomfort from a physical condition, people coming back to cycling for exercise who want more comfort, and people that like to be different. We welcome <strong>the</strong>m all and try to help <strong>the</strong>m find <strong>the</strong> recumbent that will get <strong>the</strong>m out riding. We’re fighting “oil addiction” with human powered transportation. Join <strong>the</strong> fight – park your car and ride your bike. bikes@vienna, LLC 128A Church St, NW Vienna, VA 22180 703-938-8900 www.bikesatvienna.com COME TO OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR UNUSUAL PRODUCTS AND CLICK USED BIKES FOR PHOTOS, DESCRIPTIONS, AND PRICES OF OUR PRE-OWNED BIKES. So let’s make some comparisons. A house like my parents' in our old neighborhood just sold for $170,000, over five times what my folks sold <strong>the</strong>ir place for when gas was a buck. A hard working, independent business man today should earn at least $100,000 to $125,000 a year, five times what my dad earned back <strong>the</strong>n. So what’s <strong>the</strong> big deal about $4 gas? To be on par, it should be five bucks a gallon, not four. Last night I took <strong>the</strong> <strong>family</strong> to a tiny local carnival for kiddie rides, a couple of hot dogs and chicken platters. It was over 60 bucks. When we went to <strong>the</strong> good ole Allentown Fair—15 bucks covered <strong>the</strong> whole night. $4 gas. What’s <strong>the</strong> big deal? Folks are just beginning to think about changing <strong>the</strong>ir habits when it comes to gas consumption. Now $10 a gallon gas. That will be something. If you think your local bike shop is busy now, wait until it hits $10 a gallon. Trust me, it’s not very far away. I can smell it coming. Happy Trails, Neil Sandler Editor & Publisher TANDEMS = Sharing WHY RIDE A TANDEM? It’s sharing <strong>the</strong> fun and experience with a partner, a child, a parent, or a friend. Sharing exercise, sharing adventure, sharing <strong>the</strong> joy of accomplishment, and creating a shared memory. We sell and rent tandems because we’ve shared <strong>the</strong>se things and found that bicycling can be even more fun when it is shared. We’re fighting “oil addiction” with human powered transportation. Join <strong>the</strong> fight – park your car and ride your bike. bikes@vienna, LLC 128A Church St, NW Vienna, VA 22180 703-938-8900 www.bikesatvienna.com COME TO OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR UNUSUAL PRODUCTS AND CLICK USED BIKES FOR PHOTOS, DESCRIPTIONS, AND PRICES OF OUR PRE-OWNED BIKES. Touring • Racing • Off-Road Recreation • Triathlon • Commuting SPOKES is published monthly eight times a year — monthly March through September, plus one winter issue. It is available free of charge at most area bicycle stores, fitness centers and related sporting establishments throughout Maryland, Virginia, <strong>the</strong> District of Columbia, and parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia. Circulation: 30,000. Copyright© 2008 SPOKES. All rights reserved. No reprinting without <strong>the</strong> publisher’s written permission. Opinions expressed and facts presented are attributed to <strong>the</strong> respective authors and not SPOKES. Editorial and photographic submissions are welcome. Material can only be returned if it is accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. The publisher reserves <strong>the</strong> right to refuse any advertising which may be inappropriate to <strong>the</strong> magazine’s purpose. Editorial and Advertising Office: SPOKES 5911 Jefferson Boulevard Frederick, MD 21703 Phone/Fax: (301) 371-5309 e-mail: spokesmag@comcast.net JULY 2008 EDITOR & PUBLISHER Neil W. Sandler CALENDAR EDITOR Sonja P. Sandler GRAPHIC DESIGN Studio 22 www.studio20two.com Don’t Miss an Issue! Subscribe to Name ___________________________________ Address _________________________________ City/State/Zip ____________________________ Send check or money order payable to: SPOKES 5911 Jefferson Boulevard Frederick, MD 21703 ■ Yes! Send me <strong>the</strong> next 8 issues first class for $25. July 2008 3
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